Question

3. Bobbie is a 54-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her husband, Larry, has been very supportive and accepting of the mental illness diagnosis. Her two children, ages 15 and 17 are worried that they might also develop bipolar disorder but are also very supportive of their mother. The family feels that they do not have the knowledge and skills to handle the condition and decide to enroll in family consultation.

a. Why do you believe it is important to involve the family in the treatment of clients?

b. Describe family consultation. How is it different from family therapy?

c. Describe the components of family consultation.

d. Describe the role of the nurse as a family consultant.

Answer 1

1. Why do you believe it is important to involve the family in the treatment of clients?

Bipolar disorder usually causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy and the ability to think clearly. Her family is needed to be involved because they will need to understand the highs and lows she will be experiencing most of the time from now. They will have to participate in giving her, her medication on time and understand the side effects of the medications.

Her family may feel frustrated and fear about the treatment expenses, social stigma, and will be emotionally disturbed by the turn in events. Children will miss their mother and a husband his wife. Healthcare professionals will have to support them and help the family to understand that treatment will be effective only with their support and dedication. They can also agree upon her joining any support groups for therapeutic purposes.

1. Describe family consultation. How is it different from family therapy?

Family Consultation: It is like meeting a doctor for prescribing medications and for treating the symptoms. A consultation is requested by the patient or family member. Any of the family members can be available for this meeting.

Family Therapy: It’s a type of counseling given to the members of the family who have come to meet the doctor. It requires quality time from the family members and it focuses on the changes a family undergoes when taking care of a person with mental illness.

1. Describe the components of family consultation.

Recording of health information (Subjective/Objective data)

May initiate diagnostic and/or therapeutic services at the first or subsequent visits.

Documents his findings and advises medications or services to be availed in the patient’s medical record, and a written report is sent if cross-referred to another doctor.

Educates family about the importance of regular treatment adherence and hospitalization if required

1. Describe the role of the nurse as a family consultant.

• To identify health & nursing needs and problems of the family and to ensure family’s understanding and acceptance of these needs and problems. Services should be realistic in terms of resources available.
• To plan and provide health and nursing services with the active participation of family members and to develop abilities to deal with Bobbie’s health needs and health problems independently.
• To Provide services without discrimination
• Periodic and continuous appraisal and evaluation of family health situation
• Proper maintenance of record and reports.
• To help the family make intelligent use of promotive, preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative health and allied facilities and services in the community.
• To educate, counsel and guide family members to cultivate good personal health habits, practice safe cultural practices and maintain wholesome physical, psychosocial, and spiritual environment.